The 59th annual Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention held Jan. 8-12 in Orlando attracted more than 11,000 attendees and 620 dealer booths.
FUN Secretary Donna Moon was awarded the American Numismatic Association President’s Award. It was presented by ANA President Walter Ostromecki and ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick.
Six club buses brought 235 club members to the show. The 16 educational seminars had record attendance, with five of the programs having standing room only.
Cindy Wibker was convention coordinator, Jim Best was general chairman and Tony Swicer was club president.
The exhibit area featured 46 exhibits from 12 states.
The Best of Show Award sponsored by heritage Auctions went to Charmy Harker for “Penny Potpourri – A Collection of Penny Creations.”
Harker also won the People’s Choice Award. First runner-up was Thomas Uram with Tichard Bousquet as second runner-up.
Category winners were:
• U.S. Coins – Uram, first place; William T. Jones, second place; and Steve Lauer, third place.
• Paper Money – Mack Martin, first place; Dennis Schafluetzel, second place; and Rocky Manning, third place.
• Medals, Orders – Richard Jozefiak, first place; Bob Jaques, second place; and Mark Lighterman, third place.
• Foreign Coins – Thomas Palmer, first place; Uram, second place; and William Myers, third place.
• Errors – Mack Martin, first place; John H. Miller Jr., second place; and Jozefiak, third place.
• Miscellaneous – Harker, first place; Carol Bastable, second place; and Patricia Hynds, third place.
• Junior Young Numismatists – Justin Wurst, first place; Peyton Souder, second place; and Christian Harrs, third place.
• Senior Young Numismatists – Zachary Lauer, first place; Andrew Blinkiewicz, second place.
• Clubs – John Phipps of Georgia Numismatic Association, first place; Carol Bastable of the Original Hobo Nickel Society, second place; and Phipps of the Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta, third place.
Among the highlights of the FUN convention were an opening address by Dennis Boggs as Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, a YN program for 51 kids and a Boy Scout merit badge program involving 63 scouts.
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